Federer Gets Difficult Semi-Final Clash in the Paris Masters

Second seed Novak Djokovic will face third seed Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Paris Masters after struggling from a set down to beat Croatia’s Marin Cilic 4-6 6-2 6-3 in two hours and 12 minutes. The Serb lost the opening set and went 2-1 down in the third before immediately breaking back and then moving ahead at 5-3.

Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Roger Federer beat Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 21 minutes holding off a break point late in the first set before immediately moving ahead in the second.

Last week, Federer sealed the Swiss Indoors title for the ninth time and is now one shy from a century of tournament wins.

Djokovic showed irritation during his victory, aiming an outburst at his box before serving for the second set, and breaking his racquet after dropping serve in the third.

The 2018 US Open and Wimbledon champion is on a 21-match winning streak and has beaten Cilic in their two most recent meetings.

Fifth seed Cilic defeated Djokovic in this year’s Queen’s final but the Serb won in the last four of the Cincinnati Masters on the way to a record-breaking win over Federer in the final.

With four Paris Masters titles to his name, Djokovic will take the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal on Monday.